SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Educational television. English KS3 students work together in an introductory lesson on analysing Shakespeare. English teacher, Karen McWilliam, and lead teacher in English Carol Weale, joined their Year 9 classes together to provide fresh ideas about teaching Shakespeare. Building on the classes’ knowledge of iambic pentameter, Karen asks the students to look at two speeches by contrasting characters: Macbeth and Puck.

By looking at the rhythm of the verses and the number of syllables in each line of the verses, the students build up an understanding of the emotional state of each character, without looking at the language. Karen leads the lesson with Carol’s supporting her, assisting with discipline and adding an extra dimension to the teaching.

Although team-teaching has potential risks, their similar teaching styles help ensure the lessons run smoothly.

Series

Great Secondary Lesson Ideas

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

2011

Transmission details

12 Nov 2011

Duration

6 mins

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

Macbeth; Midsummer Night’s Dream, A

Subjects

Drama; Education; Shakespeare

Keywords

drama teaching; poetry; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); teacher training; team teaching; Verse speaking

Notes

Notes

The programme schedule is designed to fit into teachers’ working days, broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week on digital satellite and cable, and overnight on digital terrestrial TV. Programmes are also available on the supporting website (www.teachers.tv), allowing viewers to watch or download programmes. 

General

Teachers’ TV was launched on 8 February 2005, and is aimed at everyone involved in education — governors, managers and support staff as well as teachers. Programmes demonstrate lessons with innovative teaching ideas, examples of good practice, reviews of available resources, documentaries on educational issues and the recordable resources made by the BBC and Channel 4, among others.

Online Availability

Online URL

http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Secondary-English-Team-Teaching-Shakespeare-6084632/

Online price

free

Online format

Streamed/Download

Production Company

Name

Teachers’ TV

Email

info@teachers.tv

Web

http://www.teachers.tv/ External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7182 7430

Address

6-18 Berners Street
London
W1T 3LN

Notes

Funded by the Department for Education, Teachers’ TV was a producer and supplier of over 3,600 free videos and lesson resources to support the professional development of anyone working in school, enabling them to widen their skills, develop their practice, and connect with others in the field. Previously broadcast on digital television, the service became exclusively online from 31 August 2010, with programmes being available for free online viewing or download. Thge DfE terminated the contract with Teachers TV and delivery via the website ceased on 29 April 2011, with the programmes being offered to educational distributors free online delivery. Further details from the DfE website Until 29 April 2011 programmes from Teachers Television were streamed on the website and available for download to registered users (free registration). Programmes are aimed at primary and secondary school teachers in all subject areas, as well as headteachers and governors, and include observation of teaching sessions, materials for use in the classroom and discussion of issues relevant to education. Teachers TV was funded by the Department for Education but the contract ended in April 2011 and the programmes are being offered to educational distributors to deliver free at the point of use from their websites. Details of which titles are available in this way are on the DfE website http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/toolsandinitiatives/teacherstv

Distributor

Name

TES Resources

Web

http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resources/ External site opens in new window